Blowout preventer

ABSTRACT

Blowout preventers of the ram-type, each having a bonnet which is detachably connected to the preventer body, and which bonnet is movable away from the preventer body to expose the ram therewith for permitting removal of the ram from the preventer for replacement or repair, wherein the ram piston and cylinder which are operable for moving the ram to and from its open and closed positions when the bonnet is secured to the preventer body are also operable for moving the bonnet away from and towards the preventer body when the bonnet is disconnected from the body. Detent means are provided for resisting relative movement between the ram and the body when the ram is in the open position and the bonnet is disconnected from the body, whereby the bonnet can be moved away from the body to the exposed ram position and then returned to reengage the bonnet with the body. Flexible hydraulic fluid conductor means is provided for operating the piston and for moving the cylinder relative to the piston.

United States Patent LeRouax Mar. 7, 1972 [54] BLOWOUT PREVENTER [72]Inventor: Robert K. LeRouax, Harris County, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Hydrll Company [22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1970 [21] App]. No.:75,360

Primary Examiner-M. Cary Nelson Assistant Examiner-David R. MatthewsAttorney-Pravel, Wilson & Matthews [57] ABSTRACT Blowout preventers ofthe ram-type, each having a bonnet which is detachably connected to thepreventer body, and which bonnet is movable away from the preventer bodyto expose the ram therewith for permitting removal of the ram from thepreventer for replacement or repair, wherein the ram piston and cylinderwhich are operable for moving the ram to and from its open and closedpositions when the bonnet is secured to the prevent/er body are alsooperable for moving the bonnet away from and towards the preventer bodywhen the bonnet is disconnected from the body. Detent means are providedfor resisting relative movement between the ram and the body when theram is in the open position and the bonnet is disconnected from thebody, whereby the bonnet can be moved away from the body to the exposedram position and then returned to reengage the bonnet with the body.Flexible hydraulic fluid conductor means is provided for operating thepiston and for moving the cylinder relative to the piston.

20 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR 71972 3,647. 174

' sum 1 0F 5 I INV EN TOR Robe/'2 Ze/Pouax nuwel will 1 MalllewlATTORNEYS PATENTEDMAR 7 I972 SHEET 5 OF 5 INVENTOR fiaer/ Ze/PQuaXpun/e1 Willow K MaHLewA ATTOR NE YS BLOWOUT PREVENTER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The field of this invention is blowout preventers.

It often becomes necessary or desirable to replace the rams, or at leastthe sealing components thereof, in a blowout preventer while thepreventer is in the field in its normally mounted position at awellhead. In the past, various efforts have been made to facilitate suchfield removal of the rams for replacement and/or repair, examples ofwhich are shown in U.S. Pats. Nos. 2,752,119; 2,912,214; and 3,272,222.In the blowout preventer constructions of such prior art, the rams wereoperated normally by the main hydraulic system, and a separateadditional hydraulic system was required to move the blowout away fromand back to the preventer body. Such prior art constructions requiredtelescoping tubes for carrying the hydraulic fluid to effect themovements of the bonnet relative to the head, which tubes had to havepolished or smooth external surfaces to maintain a fluid seal during thetelescoping movements. Such smooth surfaces were always exposed todamage such as scratches, indentations and nicks caused by tools andparts hitting the tubes when the bonnet and ram were in the open exposedposition. If the damage was severe enough, destruction of the seals soonfollowed, with consequent leaks of hydraulic fluid, and causing theequipment to malfunction or become inoperative.

Furthermore, because of the use of the supplemental hydraulic system formoving the bonnet in such prior art blowout preventers, the overallweight of the preventer was excessive, and the force exerted in closingthe bonnet in sealing contact with the head was relatively small. Also,an excessively large number of fluid seals was required in suchconstructions. Additionally, the location of such telescoping tubes inthe prior art blowout preventers interfered with and prevented lateralremoval of the rams from the preventer, so that it was very difficult,and often impossible, to remove the rams from a lower preventer in avertically stacked double preventer assembly without first extending thebonnet in the upper preventer and removing the upper rams therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A blowout preventer of the ram-type havingpiston and cylinder means for effecting normal opening and closing ofthe rams and for also effecting movements of the preventer bonnet awayfrom and back to the preventer body when the bonnet is'disconnected fromthe body, whereby increased power is available for opening and closingthe bonnet, a lighter weight structure is possible and fewer seals arerequired, as compared to the prior art. Additionally, the telescopingtubes for the supplemental bonnet hydraulic system used in the prior artare not necessary with the present invention, thereby solving theproblem of the failure of such prior art preventers when the telescopingtubes were damaged. Preferably, flexible hydraulic lines are utilized inthe blowout preventers of this invention rather than telescoping tubes.

The blowout preventer of this invention is also constructed so that therams can each be removed vertically or laterally from the preventer,whereby the rams in a lower preventer of a vertically stacked doublepreventer can be removed without opening the bonnets and removing therams of the upper preventer, thereby saving man-hours and needlesseffort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation of the blowoutpreventer of this invention, illustrating the preventer with theleft-hand bonnet in the ram-exposed position, and the right-hand bonnetin the normal connected position;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the blowout preventer of this invention;

FIGS. 3, 4, and are cross-sectional views of the blowout preventer ofFIG. 1, showing the left-hand portion thereof, with FIG. 3 illustratingthe preventer in the normal operating position with the ram closed, FIG.4 showing the preventer in the normally operating position with the ramin the open position; and FIG. 5 showing a view taken on line 5-5 ofFIG. 1 to illustrate the bonnet in the open, ram-exposing position;

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are vertical sectional views taken from the lefthand to the right-hand end of the left-hand portion of the blowoutpreventer of this invention, illustrating in detail one of the rams withits associated structure;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6C;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 4,illustrating in detail one form of the flexible fluid conduit which ispreferably utilized with the blowout preventer of this invention;

FIG. 9 is an end view of a modified ram, with a portion of apiston roddetachably connected thereto, and illustrating inparticular theconstruction of the ram to effect removal of the ram from the piston rodeither vertically or laterally;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modified form. of theflexible fluid conduits which may be utilized in place of the flexiblefluid conduit illustrated in FIG. 8 in particular;

FIG. 11 is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating further detailsof the modified flexible fluid conduits of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but illustrating the flexibleconduits in their collapsed or smallest dimension position with thebonnet in contact with the preventer body so that the normal rammovements may be conducted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, the letter Adesignates generally the blowout preventer of this which is connected inthe usual way to well casing or pipe P, using bolts 10 which extendthrough a flange 11 on each section of the casing P into a body B of thepreventer A. The body B is of conventional construction and includes acentral longitudinal opening 12 therethrough which is aligned with thevertical opening through the casing or pipe P. The body B also haslaterally disposed ram openings 14 which are disposed on diametricallyopposite sides of the body B, extending entirely through the wall ofsuch body B, and communicating with the longitudinal opening 12. A ram Rof any suitable construction is mounted so that it is laterally movablein one of the lateral ram openings 14 and it has any suitable sealingassembly 15 formed of rubber or similar material therewith in the usualmanner. The rams R are adapted to be moved laterally from the closedposition (FIGS. 3 and 6C) in which position they close off fluid flowthrough the central opening 12, to an open position (FIG. 4) in normaloperation, wherein the central bore 12 is open for performing normalwell operations therethrough.

Furthermore, as will be explained more in detail, the blowout preventerA of this invention is constructed so that a bonnet H is mounted so asto enclose each of the rams R on each side of the blowout preventer bodyB. Each of the bonnets or heads H is releasably connected to the body Bwith bolts 18 or any other suitable releasable securing means in theknown manner. An operating cylinder C is secured to the bonnet H bybolts 20 or other suitable securing means (FIG. I) so that the cylinderC is movable with the bonnet H. A piston D is slidably positioned withinthe cylinder C (FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6B). Each piston D is connected to oneof the rams R by a piston rod 22 so that movements of the piston D aretransmitted to the ram R connected therewith. As will be more fullyexplained, fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder C, preferablythrough fluid conduits F-l and F-2 so as to move the piston D within thecylinder C for moving the ram R therewith to and from the closed andopen positions. Also, when the bonnet H is disconnected from the body B,the fluid pressure in the cylinder C is utilized to move the cylinder Crelative to the piston D (FIG. 5) for moving the bonnet H away from thepreventer body B so as to expose the ram R for removal. The fluidpressure is also utilized for the return of the cylinder C relative tothe piston D to return the bonnet H to the closed position (FIG. 4) forconnecting same to the preventer body B for normal operations of the ramR. It will be understood that throughout this description, the structureand operation for only the left-hand ram R and the parts therewith areexplained in detail, since the structure and operation of the other ramand parts therewith are generally the same.

Considering the invention more in detail, the left hand ram R (FIG. I)is illustrated as having a generally oval shape, although it may becylindrical or of any other suitable shape so as to properly functionwithin its ram opening 14 in the body B. The ram R is releasablyconnected to the piston rod 22 by means of a rod connector pin 24 havingan enlarged button 240. The connector 24 may be integral with the rod22, or it may be threaded thereto as indicated at 24b (FIG. 6C). Anannular projection 240 is also formed with the connector 24 and isdisposed in proximity to the end of the piston rod 22, for a purpose tobe hereinafter explained. As best seen in FIG. 9, the ram R is formedwith a laterally extending slot 25 and a vertically extending slot 26.The dimensions of the button connector 24a are larger than the diameterof the shaft portion of the connector 24 so that the button 24a fitswithin an enlarged channel 25a of the slot 25, or an enlarged channel26a of the vertical slot 26. The diameter of the shaft portion of theconnector 24 is slightly smaller than the width of the slot 25 or theslot 26. The ram R can thus be moved transversely relative to theconnector 24 as the shaft portion of the connector 24 moves through theslot 25 and the button 24a moves through the enlarged channel portion250 of the slot 25. Since the slot 25 and its channel 25a extendentirely across the ram R, the ram R may be removed from the connector24 and thus from the piston rod 22 in either lateral direction.Similarly, the ram R may be removed by raising it vertically so that theshaft portion of the connector 24 passes through the slot 26 and thebutton 24a passes through the channel portion 26:: of the slot 26. Tofacilitate the positioning of the ram R at the proper central positionwith respect to the connector 24, a recess 25b is formed in the upperwall of the slot 25 to receive a part of the connector 24 (FIG. 9) whenthe connector 24 is in the proper position at approximately the midpointof the ram R. In FIG. 9, the connector button 240 and a portion of theshaft of the connector 24 are illustrated in dotted lines to show theposition thereof during the removal of the ram R transversely, using theslot 25.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in FIGS.

6A-6C, the body B has an extension 30 which is welded or is otherwisesecured to the body B, and which includes an upstanding resistancemember 31 having an annular recess 31a therein, which forms a part of adetent means for resisting movement of the ram R relative to the body Bwhen the bonnet H is disconnected from the body B, as will be more fullyexplained. The other part of the detent means or resistance means is aflexible split ring 32 (FIGS. 6C and 7) which is mounted at the end ofthe rod 22 near the ram R.

The ring 32 is split as indicated at 32a (FIG. 7) so that is cancontract in its external diameter to enter the recess 31a. Its inherentresiliency normally urges it to a diameter which is greater than thediameter of the rod 22 so that when the ring 32 is in the recess 31a, itresists movement of the rod 22 relative to the sleeve 31 and thusrelative to the body B. The resilient ring 32 fits within an annulargroove 22a having a plurality of stops 22!; therein. However, it shouldbe understood that any other suitable arrangement for providing aresiliently contractable and expansible member to enter the recess 31ato-serve as the detent means or resistance means may be utilized. Itshould also be noted that the body extension 30 may serve as a shelf oradditional support for the ram R when it is in the exposed position,although such additional support from the extension 30 is not necessarysince the bonnet H and the parts therewith including the ram R areadequately supported by a pair of support tubes 35 when the bonnet H isin the open ram-exposing position (FIG. It should also be pointed outthat thesupport tubes 35 are located at the lower end of the body B sothat the upper surfaces of such support tubes 35 are substantially at orare lower than the lower part of the ram R so that the ram R may beremoved laterally from the rod 22 (FIG. 1).

Any suitable seal is provided between the bonnet H and the rod 22 toprevent the well fluid from entering the operating cylinder C, one formof which is illustrated in FIG. 6B and includes an annular lip type sealring 36 formed of rubber or similar material which normally holds thewell pressure. A secondary seal 37 of conventional construction which isenergized by the injection of plastic backs up the lip seal 36. A thirdseal is provided by an O-ring 38. A weep hole 39 which has a hole 39a incommunication therewith is provided to the atmosphere between thesecondary seal and the O-ring 38 to make certain that there is nocommunication between the well fluid and the operating cylinder C.

A cylinder liner 40 is mounted on the bonnet H to provide a smoothinternal cylindrical surface 40a in which the piston D may slide duringrelative reciprocatory movement of the piston D and the cylinder C. Theexternal surface 401) of the cylinder liner 40 has a diameter which isless than the internal diameter of the main portion of the cylinder C soas to provide an inlet passage 41 which communicates with the interiorof the cylinder liner 40 at the outer end 400. Thus, when it is desiredto introduce fluid under pressure into the cylinder C outwardly of thepiston D, the fluid under pressure is introduced through the fluidconduit F-2 as will be more fully explained, from a source of the fluidpressure (not shown), whereby the fluid under pressure is introducedthrough the passage 41 at the end 400 of the cylinder 40.

When it is desired to introduce fluid under pressure into the cylinder Cinwardly of the piston D, the fluid conduit F-l is utilized.

Considering the fluid conduits F-l and F-2 more specifically, referenceis made to FIGS. 3-5 and 8 for details of one form of such conduitconstruction. Fluid under pressure is introducedinto the body B throughan inlet passage 50 which communicates with a flexible coiled hose 5],having one end 51a attached to the body B, and having the other end 51bthereof attached to the head or bonnet H. In the preferred form of theinvention, the flexible conduit section of hose 51 is formed of rubberor any other suitable material which is capable of being expanded orextended from a retracted position (FIGS. 3 and 4) to an expandedposition (FIG. 5). The fluid conduit section 51 fits within one of thesupport tubes 35 which serves as a protector for the hose 51 when thebonnet H is in the ram-exposing position (FIG. 5).

The bonnet H has a passage 52 which leads from the end 51b of the hose51 to the cylinder C inwardly of the piston D so that whether the hoseor conduit section 51 is in the extended position of FIG. 5, or in theretracted position of FIG. 8, the fluid may flow under pressure from thepassage 50 through the conduit section 51 and the passage 52 into thecylinder C.

The fluid conduit F-2 is constructed in an identical manner to the fluidconduit F-l, except that the hose or fluid conduit section 51 of theconduit F-2 connects with a passage 53 in the bonnet H which establishescommunication with the passage 41 in the cylinder Cso as to direct thefluid under pressure to the area of the cylinder C outwardly of thepiston D. Otherwise, the parts which are the same in the two fluidconduit systems F-l and F-2 have like numerals and other designations.The details of the flexible hose or conduit section 51 which areillustrated in FIG. 8 have been specifically taken from line 8-8 of FIG.4, but it will be understood that such details are likewise applicableto the flexible hose or conduit section 51 of the fluid conduit F-2,substituting the passage 53 for the passage 52 shown in FIG. 8.

For locking the ram R in the closed position (FIG. 3), a lockingassembly is provided, the details of which areshown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.The locking assembly includes a locking sleeve 60 which has a nutsection 60a welded or otherwise secured thereto, with internal threads60b in threaded engagement with external threads 4510 on a lock screwrod 61. A vent hole 61b is provided in the lock screw rod 61 for therelease of fluid which is trapped when the lock sleeve 60 is unthreadedto the locked position. Under normal operating conditions with the heador bonnet H secured to the body B, the lock sleeve 60 andthe lock screwrod 61 are in the telescoped or closed position illustrated in FIG. 6Aand 6B and they more together with the piston D. The sleeve 60 movesthrough any suitable seals 62 (the outer one of which is a wiper) in theoperating cylinder C, and the outer end of the sleeve 60 has a solid cap60c which is welded or is otherwise affixed thereto beyond the extremityof the lock screw rod 61. Such cap 60c preferably has a square crosssection so as to form wrench flats on its external surface to facilitatethe rotation of the sleeve 60 and its threaded section 60a relative tothe lock screw 61, as will be more fully explained. A protector tube 63is welded or is otherwise afiixed to the operating cylinder C forreceiving the sleeve 60 to protect same against damage when the sleeve60 is in the extended position.

The lock sleeve 60 preferably is provided with an antifriction stop ringor washer 60d (FIG. 6B) which is loosely positioned on the lock sleevesection 60 to form an annular surface which provides antifriction andprevents galling by contacting a machined surface 64 on the inside wallat the outer endof the operating cylinder C when the maximum extend ofoutward movement of the sleeve 60 relative to the cylinder C has beenreached. Thus, when the piston D is in the inner position, with the ramR in the closed position (FIG. 3), the cap 600 may be rotated, using awrench or any other suitable tool. The rotation of the sleeve 60 causesit to unthread relative to the lock screw rod 61, since the rod 61 isintegral with, or connected with the rod 22 which is prevented fromrotating due to the square or rectangular shape of the connector button24a and the oval shape of the ram R. It will be appreciated that anyother suitable means for preventing the rotation of the lock screw 61may be provided so as to obtain the relative longitudinal unthreading ofthe sleeve 60. The sleeve 60 is unthreaded until the stop ring 60dengages the annular seating surface 64, at which point the piston D isprevented from moving outwardly from its inner position. It is to benoted that the protector sleeve 63 is omitted from FIGS. 1-5 forpurposes of illustration, but it is shown in FIG. 6A in its preferredembodiment. Such sleeve 63 protects the sleeve 60 when it is in theextended position.

In the operation or use of the apparatus of this invention, the bonnetor head H is normally secured to'the body B by means of the connectingbolts 18 or other suitable attaching means. Therefore, for normaloperation of each ram R, fluid under pressure is introduced into thecylinder C outwardly of the piston D for moving the ram R inwardly tocompletely close the longitudinal central opening 12 in the body B. Itwill be understood that when the ram R is a blind ram, it engages a ramof the same configuration in the diametrically op posite position forcompleting the closure of the opening 12, as will be well understood bythose skilled in the art. 1f the ram R is shaped for fitting around theexternal surface of a well pipe in the bore or opening 12, then the twoopposed rams will close off the opening 12 around such pipe, as will beunderstood by those skilled in the art.

When it is desired to move each of the rams R to the open position so asto leave the bore or opening 12 completely open, fluid under pressure isintroduced through the fluid conduit F-l into the cylinder C inwardly ofthe piston D to thereby move the piston D outwardly to the positionshown in FIG. 4 wherein the ram R is displaced outwardly with itsinnermost edge beyond the edge of the body B.

Under normal operations, the bonnet H thus remains connected to the bodyB, and the ram R on each side of the body B is moved back and forth asdesired for controlling the opening and closing of the central orlongitudinal opening 12 through the body B. The piston D and, therefore,the ram R on each side of the body B may be locked in the closedposition by the unthreading of the lock sleeve 60 relative to thethreaded lock screw rod 61, as previously explained.

When it is desired to move the ram R to the exposed position (FIG. 5)for the removal of the ram R from the preventer A, the ram R is firstmoved to the open position illustrated in FIG. 4, forcing the resilientring 32 to enter the detent recess 31a (FIG. 4). In that position, theram R is displaced outwardly of the body B. Thereafter, the bolts 18 orother suitable connecting means between the bonnet H and the body B aredisconnected, and fluid under pressure is supplied through the fluidconduit F-2, including the flexible conduit section 51 to the cylinder Coutwardly of the piston D. Since the resistance provided by the ring 32in the detent recess 31a is greater than the frictional resistancebetween the bonnet H and the tubes 35, such fluid pressure acts to movethe cylinder C outwardly while the piston D remains stationary. Sincethe operating cylinder C and the bonnet H are connected-together'bythebolts 20 or other suitable connecting means, the outward movement ofthe operating cylinder C moves the bonnet H outwardly therewith so as tofully expose the ram R (FIG. 5). It is to be noted that'the flexiblehoses or conduit sections 51 in the two fluid conduits F-l and F-2 arefully protected by the support tubes 35 when the ram R is exposed forremoval. The bonnet H and parts therewith are supported by the supporttube 35. If desired, supplemental support may be provided for the ram Rby resting same. on the body extension 30, as previously explained.

When the ram R is in the ram-exposed position (FIG. 5), it may beremoved either laterally in either direction .or vertically, aspreviously explained. Since the ram R may be removed laterally, it ispossible to remove the ram R even though it is the lower ram in a doubleblowout preventer with a pair of preventers in a vertical stack, withoutremoving the upper ram in the stack, as is required in the prior art.

To return the bonnet H to the closed position (FIG. 4), fluid underpressure is introduced through the fluid conduit F-l so that such fluidenters the operating cylinder C inwardly of the piston D. Outwardmovement of the piston D is prevented by the engagement of theprojection 24c with the sleeve-3l so that the fluid under pressureinwardly of the piston D forces the cylinder C and bonnet H inwardlyfrom the outer open position (FIG. 5) to the inner closed position (FIG.4). The bolts 18 or other suitable connecting means are then-reattachedto secure the bonnet or head H to the body B so that normal ramoperations may thereafter be continued.

It should be noted that instead of using the shoulder 24c for engagementwith the sleeve 31, when returning the bonnet H to the closed position,the ram R itself may engage the sleeve 31 to resist outward movement ofthe piston D.

FIGS. 10-12 illustrate a modified form of the blowoutpreventer of thisinvention, with the body B-l, ram R-l, bonnet l-I-l, and cylinder C-l,corresponding to the body B, ram R, bonnet H and the operating cylinderC of FIGS. 1-9, but with certain modifications as will be explained. Thefluid conduit system F-l and F-2 illustrated in FIGS. 10-12 may beessentially identical with those heretofore described in connection withF IGS. 3-5 and 8, except that the flexible conduit section 51 of suchfigures is replaced by a hinged flexible conduit section 70. Each of theflexible hinged conduit sections 70 has pivoted connections 70a and 70b,with a hinge or pivot connection 70c joining rigid tubes 70d and We. Theflexible conduit section 70 communicates with a fluid passage 150 in thebody B-l through which fluid under pressure is supplied from a source(not shown). The fluid conduit section 70 also communicates with apassage 152 in the bonnet H-l which corresponds with the passage 52 inthe bonnet H for supplying fluid under pressure to the operatingcylinder C-l inwardly of a piston D in the same manner as heretoforedescribed in connection with FIGS. l-9.

Support members having a substantially U" shape are connected to thebody B-1 and extend over the top of each of the sections 70 to protectsame when the bonnet 11-1 is in the open ram-exposing position (FIG.10). The bonnet l-I-1 has a face of each support member 135 is disposedsubstantially at or below the lower part of the ram R-l (FIG. 11) tofacilitate the removal of the ram R1 laterally in either direction ifdesired. Also, the body 3-] has a recess 76 for each of the hingesections 70, and the bonnet H-l has a recess 77 for each of the hingesections 70 so as to permit a collapse or contraction of each of thehinge sections 70 to its smallest dimension when the bonnet H4 is incontact with the body B-l (FIG. 12). It is to be noted that the supportmembers 135 perform the same function as the tubes 35 in FIG. 5, in thatsuch support members 135 support the bonnet H-1 and the parts therewithwhen the bonnet 11-1 is in the open ram-exposing position (FIG.

Although the resistance means or detent means provided by the resilientring 32 and the locking recess 31a may be utilized in the modified formof the apparatus of FIGS. 10-12 if desired, FIG. 11 illustrates suchmodified structure with another type of resistance or detent means.Thus, the modified resistance or detent means of FIGS. 10-11 includes aresiliently urged member such as a ball 80 which is urged upwardly by aspring 81 mounted at any suitable location in the body 3-1 forengagement with a portion of the ram R-l. After the ram R-l has beenmoved to the open position so as to be outwardly of the body 8-1, theball 80 is resiliently urged upwardly so as to provide resistance to thereturn of the ram R-l inwardly (FIG. 11). Thus, when the bonnet H-l isthereafter disconnected from the body B-l, fluid under pressure which issupplied through the fluid conduit F-2 into the operating cylinder C-loutwardly of the piston D acts to move the bonnet l-l-l outwardly tofully expose the ram R-1. The ram R-l also has a shoulder 83 which isadapted to engage a body extension 84 when fluid under pressure isintroduced through the fluid conduit F-l for returning the bonnet H-l tothe closed position.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size,shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

1 claim:

1. A blowout preventer, comprising:

a blowout preventer body having a central bore therethrough throughwhich well pipe may pass, and a ram opening through the wall of saidbody on at least one side of said central opening and communicating withsaid central opening;

a ram for said ram opening;

a bonnet detachably connected to said body over said ram opening andadapted to receive said ram when it has been moved to an open positionout of said central opening;

an operating cylinder connected to said bonnet and movable therewith;

a piston operably disposed in said cylinder and having a rod connectedtherefrom through said bonnet to said ram;

fluid pressure means for supplying fluid under pressure to either sideof each piston for controlling its movements to thereby control themovements of said ram to and from a closed position wherein said ramextends into said central opening in said preventer body and an openposition wherein said central opening is unobstructed and said ram isdisposed outwardly of said ram opening of said body; and

resistance means for resisting relative movement between said ram andsaid body when said bonnet therewith is disconnected from said preventerbody whereby said bonnet can be moved away from said body by introducingfluid pressure into said operating cylinder outwardly of said piston tothereby expose said ram for removal from the preventer.

2 The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said resistance means also resists relative movement between said ramand said body when fluid pressure is introduced into said operatingcylinder inwardly of said piston to'retum said bonnet from the openram-exposed position to the closed position in contact with said body.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said resistance meansincludes:

coacting detent means on said rod and said body which are releasablyengageable when said ram is in said open position;

said detent means providing sufficient resistance in the engagedposition to prevent movement of said rod and said ram therewith relativeto said body during outward movement of said bonnet relative to saidbody; and

said detent means being releasable upon the application of fluidpressure outwardly of said piston in said cylinder when said bonnet issecured to said body.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, wherein said detent meansincludes:

a resiliently movable member on one of said body and said rod; and

a detent on the other of said body and said rod.

5. The structure set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said body has an extension projecting into said bonnet and having aportion of said detent means therewith disposed outwardly of said ramfor engagement with the other part of said detent means on said rod.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said extension of said body is disposed for supporting said ram whensaid ram is in said open position.

7. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

stop means for preventing movement of said ram relative to said bodyduring inward movement of said bonnet relative to said body.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7, wherein said stop means includes:

coacting stop surfaces on said piston rod and said body which areengageable when said ram is in said open position.

9. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said fluid pressure meansincludes:

two fluid conduits in said body and extending to said cylinder, with oneof said conduits establishing fluid communication with one side of saidpiston and with the other of said conduits establishing fluidcommunication with the other side of said piston.

10. The structure as set forth in claim 9, wherein at least one of saidfluid conduits includes:

a flexible conduit section between said body and said cylinder which isadapted to expand when said bonnet is moved away from said body and tocontract to its smallest dimension when said bonnet is returned intocontact with said body.

11. The structure set forth in claim 10, wherein said flexible conduitsection comprises:

a coiled hose mounted between said body and said cylinder.

12. The structure set forth in claim 10, wherein said flexible conduitsection comprises:

a hinged conduit between said body and said cylinder which is folded toits smallest dimension when said bonnet is in contact with said body andis expanded by unfolding when said bonnet is moved away from said body.

13. The structure set forth in claim 10, including:

a protective member carried by said body and covering at least the upperpart of said flexible conduit section for protecting same from damagewhen said bonnet is in the open ram-exposed position.

14. A blowout preventer, comprising:

a blowout preventer body having a central bore therethrough and a ramopening through the wall of said body on at least one side of saidcentral opening and communicating with said central opening;

a ram for said ram opening;

a bonnet detachably connected to said body over said ram opening andadapted to receive said ram when it has been moved to an open positionout of said central opening;

an operating cylinder connected to said bonnet and movable therewith;

a piston operably disposed in said cylinder and having a rod connectedtherefrom through said bonnet to said ram;

two fluid conduits in said body and extending to said cylinder, with oneof said conduits establishing fluid communication with one side of saidpiston and with the other of said conduits establishing fluidcommunication with the other side of said piston; and

each of said fluid conduits having a flexible conduit section betweensaid body and said cylinder which is adapted to extend when said bonnetis moved away from said body and to retract when said bonnet is returnedinto contact with said body.

15. The structure set forth in claim 14, wherein said flexible conduitsection comprises:

a coiled hose mounted between said body and said cylinder.

16. The structure set forth in claim 14, wherein said flexible conduitsection comprises:

a hinged conduit between said body and said cylinder which is extendedby unfolding when said bonnet is moved away from said body and isretracted by folding.

17. The structure set forth in claim 14, including:

a protective member carried by said body and covering at least the upperpart of said flexible conduit section for protecting same from damagewhen said bonnet is in the open ram-exposed position.

18. A blowout preventer, comprising:

a blowout preventer body having a central bore therethrough throughwhich well pipe may pass, and a ram opening through the wall of saidbody on at least one side of said central opening and communicating withsaid central opening;

a ram for said ram opening;

a bonnet detachably connected to said body over said ram opening andadapted to receive said ram when it has been moved to an open positionout of said central opening;

an operating cylinder connected to said bonnet and movable therewith;

a piston operably disposed in said cylinder and having a rod connectedtherefrom through said bonnet to said ram;

fluid pressure means for supplying fluid under pressure to either sideof each piston for controlling its movements to thereby control themovements of said ram to and from a closed position wherein said ramextends into said central opening in said preventer body and an openposition wherein said central opening is unobstructed and said ram isdisposed outwardly of said ram opening of said body; and

a pair of support members carried by said body and extending into saidbonnet for supporting said bonnet when in said open ram-exposingposition; said support members having their upper surfaces lying in aplane substantially at or below the lowermost surface of said ram forpermitting lateral movement of said ram for removal from said rod.

19. The structure set forth in claim 18, including:

means for releasably mounting said ram on said rod for releasablemovement therefrom in either a vertical or lateral direction.

20. The structure set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said fluid pressure means comprises a pair of flexible fluid conduitsections each of which is adapted to expand when said bonnet moves awayfrom said body and assume its smallest dimension when said bonnet is incontact with said body; and

each of said support members is disposed above one of said flexiblefluid conduit sections to protect same from damage when said bonnet isin said open ram-exposing position.

1. A blowout preventer, comprising: a blowout preventer body having acentral bore therethrough through which well pipe may pass, and a ramopening through the wall of said body on at least one side of saidcentral opening and communicating with said central opening; a ram forsaid ram opening; a bonnet detachably connected to said body over saidram opening and adapted to receive said ram when it has been moved to anopen position out of said central opening; an operating cylinderconnected to said bonnet and movable therewith; a piston operablydisposed in said cylinder and having a rod connected therefrom throughsaid bonnet to said ram; fluid pressure means for supplying fluid underpressure to either side of each piston for controlling its movements tothereby control the movements of said ram to and from a closed positionwherein said ram extends into said central opening in said preventerbody and an open position wherein said central opening is unobstructedand said ram is disposed outwardly of said ram opening of said body; andresistance means for resisting relative movement between said ram andsaid body when said bonnet therewith is disconnected from said preventerbody whereby said bonnet can be moved away from said body by introducingfluid pressure into said operating cylinder outwardly of said piston tothereby expose said ram for removal from the preventer.
 2. The structureset forth in claim 1, wherein: said resistance means also resistsrelative movement between said ram and said body when fluid pressure isintroduced into said operating cylinder inwardly of said piston toreturn said bonnet from the open ram-exposed position to the closedposition in contact with said body.
 3. The structure set forth in claim1, wherein said resiStance means includes: coacting detent means on saidrod and said body which are releasably engageable when said ram is insaid open position; said detent means providing sufficient resistance inthe engaged position to prevent movement of said rod and said ramtherewith relative to said body during outward movement of said bonnetrelative to said body; and said detent means being releasable upon theapplication of fluid pressure outwardly of said piston in said cylinderwhen said bonnet is secured to said body.
 4. The structure set forth inclaim 3, wherein said detent means includes: a resiliently movablemember on one of said body and said rod; and a detent on the other ofsaid body and said rod.
 5. The structure set forth in claim 3, wherein:said body has an extension projecting into said bonnet and having aportion of said detent means therewith disposed outwardly of said ramfor engagement with the other part of said detent means on said rod. 6.The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein: said extension of said bodyis disposed for supporting said ram when said ram is in said openposition.
 7. The structure set forth in claim 1, including: stop meansfor preventing movement of said ram relative to said body during inwardmovement of said bonnet relative to said body.
 8. The structure setforth in claim 7, wherein said stop means includes: coacting stopsurfaces on said piston rod and said body which are engageable when saidram is in said open position.
 9. The structure set forth in claim 1,wherein said fluid pressure means includes: two fluid conduits in saidbody and extending to said cylinder, with one of said conduitsestablishing fluid communication with one side of said piston and withthe other of said conduits establishing fluid communication with theother side of said piston.
 10. The structure as set forth in claim 9,wherein at least one of said fluid conduits includes: a flexible conduitsection between said body and said cylinder which is adapted to expandwhen said bonnet is moved away from said body and to contract to itssmallest dimension when said bonnet is returned into contact with saidbody.
 11. The structure set forth in claim 10, wherein said flexibleconduit section comprises: a coiled hose mounted between said body andsaid cylinder.
 12. The structure set forth in claim 10, wherein saidflexible conduit section comprises: a hinged conduit between said bodyand said cylinder which is folded to its smallest dimension when saidbonnet is in contact with said body and is expanded by unfolding whensaid bonnet is moved away from said body.
 13. The structure set forth inclaim 10, including: a protective member carried by said body andcovering at least the upper part of said flexible conduit section forprotecting same from damage when said bonnet is in the open ram-exposedposition.
 14. A blowout preventer, comprising: a blowout preventer bodyhaving a central bore therethrough and a ram opening through the wall ofsaid body on at least one side of said central opening and communicatingwith said central opening; a ram for said ram opening; a bonnetdetachably connected to said body over said ram opening and adapted toreceive said ram when it has been moved to an open position out of saidcentral opening; an operating cylinder connected to said bonnet andmovable therewith; a piston operably disposed in said cylinder andhaving a rod connected therefrom through said bonnet to said ram; twofluid conduits in said body and extending to said cylinder, with one ofsaid conduits establishing fluid communication with one side of saidpiston and with the other of said conduits establishing fluidcommunication with the other side of said piston; and each of said fluidconduits having a flexible conduit section between said body and saidcylinder which is adapted to extend when said bonnet is moved away fromsaid body and to retract when said bonnet is returned into contact withsaid body.
 15. The structure set forth in claim 14, wherein saidflexible conduit section comprises: a coiled hose mounted between saidbody and said cylinder.
 16. The structure set forth in claim 14, whereinsaid flexible conduit section comprises: a hinged conduit between saidbody and said cylinder which is extended by unfolding when said bonnetis moved away from said body and is retracted by folding.
 17. Thestructure set forth in claim 14, including: a protective member carriedby said body and covering at least the upper part of said flexibleconduit section for protecting same from damage when said bonnet is inthe open ram-exposed position.
 18. A blowout preventer, comprising: ablowout preventer body having a central bore therethrough through whichwell pipe may pass, and a ram opening through the wall of said body onat least one side of said central opening and communicating with saidcentral opening; a ram for said ram opening; a bonnet detachablyconnected to said body over said ram opening and adapted to receive saidram when it has been moved to an open position out of said centralopening; an operating cylinder connected to said bonnet and movabletherewith; a piston operably disposed in said cylinder and having a rodconnected therefrom through said bonnet to said ram; fluid pressuremeans for supplying fluid under pressure to either side of each pistonfor controlling its movements to thereby control the movements of saidram to and from a closed position wherein said ram extends into saidcentral opening in said preventer body and an open position wherein saidcentral opening is unobstructed and said ram is disposed outwardly ofsaid ram opening of said body; and a pair of support members carried bysaid body and extending into said bonnet for supporting said bonnet whenin said open ram-exposing position; said support members having theirupper surfaces lying in a plane substantially at or below the lowermostsurface of said ram for permitting lateral movement of said ram forremoval from said rod.
 19. The structure set forth in claim 18,including: means for releasably mounting said ram on said rod forreleasable movement therefrom in either a vertical or lateral direction.20. The structure set forth in claim 18, wherein: said fluid pressuremeans comprises a pair of flexible fluid conduit sections each of whichis adapted to expand when said bonnet moves away from said body andassume its smallest dimension when said bonnet is in contact with saidbody; and each of said support members is disposed above one of saidflexible fluid conduit sections to protect same from damage when saidbonnet is in said open ram-exposing position.